Active gyroscopic stabilizer



Nov. 2 1926. 1,605,289

A. Escl-nim ACTIVE GYROSCOPIC STABILIZEB Filed June l. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 2 i926 1,605,289

A. E. SCHIN Ajlv GYRoscoPIc sTABLIzER Filed June 1. 1921 2 sheets-'sheet'a m Il r 5 n vento@ Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATE-.S

iamsufra,x oFF-les.

Yr, SSIGNORJTO THE- SPERRYjG-KYROSGOPE COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN; 4YORILJJL ,CORPORATIDNOF'NEW' YORK.;.

ACTIVE GYROSCOPIC SIBILIZERfr` Y Application filed-June 1,

ploy a second electric motor generally ]of the direct currentjtype forthe precession engine for controlling the precession of the in gyroscope. Owing to the great fluctuations in load on the precession motor and also the fact that alternating current is Apreferable for driving'the rotor, it has been usual to )rovide a se oarate turbo'frenerator set for l e supplying the `gyroscope withthe vneeded electrical power instead of attempting to operate the same from the ships mains.

The main purpose of this invention is to simplify and cheapen the cost of theoperate zo ing equipment of the gyroscopic stabilizer by eliminating the necessity for employing a turbo-generator set and Yalso preferably theemployment of a heavy A.1C. motor to drive the rotor. A further object of' the 1"" invention is to improve the detailsof con-g struction of thek gyroscope, part oi whichv has reference to the method employedhe'rein for driving the rotor and other portions of which relate to the bearingsgof the ,gyrof 3U scope, both the rotor bearings and the pre# cesson gudgeons.4 y

Referring to the drawlngsin wliichwliat I now consider to be the preferred forms of;

my invention are shown:

H Fig. l isa vertical section partlyinelevati on of a gyroscopic stabilizer constructed according to my invention. l.

Fig. 2 is a detail section ofyone ofy the gudgeons of the stabilizer showing. the manner inv which lsteam'or other working fluid is admitted to andl exhausted `from-the easing of the gyroscope. l

Fig.` 3 ishan elementarywiring diagram of theelectrical equipment'employed. t

brakes employed toicontrol the precession of the ,f gyroscope.`

The gyroscope is shown'as of the vertical type, the same consisting of a largerotor casing `l journalled for oscillation about a horizontal axis in the gudgeons2 and 8.,; The rotor proper t issecured to stub shafts' 5 `which are journalled in the-vertical bearingsl 6 and? in the casingA 1. vPreferably,Y

duplicategbearingsti andV 8 are `provided-*for Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one' of the Words, to operate as a powerfulibrake 1921. serial No. 474,292. y

iliary4 bearing will come intok operation un-v 05 til the gyroscope can be shut down for repair; The shafti' is' shown as suspended from the anti-friction thrust bearing 9.

Insteadfof employing an Aelectrical means to drive the rotoryas heretofore done',.I prefer: to; Vdrive the same directlyA byy steam or other Yprimary source -of power. vForfthis purpose4 I have shown the periphery of the rotor as provided'with .turbine blades l0," While adjacentthe periphery thereof in the casing-l I have placedA oneor more groups of nozzles orv steam jets 11t which direct the steam fagainstthe"turbine bladesto rotate the rotorfat the' desired -'speedf,tlie turbine being preferably of the reactiontype as shown. The steam' is show-n as entering the gyroscope through a supply pipe 12'` (Fig. 2) where it ienters an annular chamber 13 surrounding" the hollowtrunnionfl connected` to the' rotor easel. Said trunnion and said 185 chamber are both provided withV 'apertures 16, lfso that 'steamiinaylflow readily from the chamber 13 into the interior of -the hollow` trunnionf i15 *from 'f whence thesteam isled by liipe #17 into the hollow annulark member-18" connected'y with the groups of turbine ,blades `IllV or fnozzles" around' the 1 rotor. Also connectedto the interior ofi` said hollow'lshaft 15'is fay second pipel9" fwhich leadsfinto a similariannular` member 95 -a duplicate lset of turbine blades 2lf which',l

however, are designed to 'operate 4the rotor inthe oppositeldireetion fromhnozzles'll.' 100 Thev principal purpose of' the duplicate set' of blades is, however, to quicklyvbringthe heavy rotorto rest WhensoA desired,y in other The direction-of rotation of' the gyroscopeV is 105 controlledjbyan means such as valvesl22 and 23`in pipes` 14 andy 19 respectively."l The main valjve`-24pis shown'in thefpipe 12.

After-f passing" throughftheblade's on the l through the passages 26 and out through the interior passageway 27 which lies within the hollow trunnion but is separated from the entering steam by the interior walls 28. F rom thence the steam passes into the chamber 29 in the outer end of the trunnion and out through the openings 30 therein into the annular chamber 3l in the gudgeon from whence the steam is led to a condenser or to the exhaust through pipe 32.

Preferably, the rotor is sealed by partitions 23 within the rotor casing not only to reduce windage losses but to prevent the steam and water from getting into the bean ings. For this purpose a water seal 24 is provided at each side ot the gyro rotor one portion of which 25 is secured to the plate 23 forming a part of the interior wall and the other portion ot which 27 is secured to the hub oi the rotor.

lfot only does the turbine on the rotor wheel drive the gyro rotor but preferably also it supplies power for operating the precession motor. By employing the rotor driving means 'for this purpose is obtained the very important advantage of being able to utilize the flywheel effect of the Vgyro rotor to absorb `the peak loads on the precession engine and at the same time to assist in braking the gyroscope about the precession axis by transferring the energy absorbed in braking the gyroscope to the gyro rotor. To effect the above purposes, I have shown a generator 40 which is shown as mounted on top of the gyroscope and directly connected to an extension 41 of the rotor shaft. The generator is shown as bolted or otherwise secured toa substantial bracket 42 secured to the top of the casing l. Said generator is preferably separately excited and is connected to drive the' precession motor 43.

Said motor is shown as mounted near the base of the gyrosrope and is geared thereto, the shaft 44 thereof extending within the gear box 45 inwhich is provided a pinion (not shown) meshingV with the large gear 46 on the gvro casing. Said motor shaft is also provided with a series of brake drums 47, 48 and 49 upon each of which operate powerful electrically,7 controlled brake shoes l50. As shown in Fic'. 4. the brakes comprise a pair of nivoted members 5l and 52 on each ot which is a brake shoe 150. Said brakes are normali)7 held against the brake drums by means of compression springs 53 and 54 each of which is mounted between one end of the lever 5l or 52 and a stop 53 adjustably secured to a rod 54.

Electro-magnetic means are provided for holding the brake slices off the drums as long as a predetermined current is flowing. Such means is shown in each instance a solenoid 56 which operates to draw inwardly a pair of armatures connected to Lacasse links 57 and 57 when excited and thereby move outwardly the outer ends 160 and i60 of links which bear on the outer end of said arms 5l Vand 52 respectively. It will, therefore, be apparent that as long as the solenoid is able to overcome the action ot the springs and 54, the brake shoes can not be applied until the current of the solenoid falls below a predetermined amount, which event will apply the brake shoes with increasing force, until a maximum is reached with no current flowing Both the motor and generator are designed for constant speed operation and are possessed of shunt or separately excited characteristics so that when theprecession motor is first started. and a heavy current required, the energy of the flywh el will absorb this peak load and assist the turbine in driving the generator' at this period. On the other hand,4 ii" the speed off precession exceeds a predetermined amount, the motor 4S will be driven A tastelthan normal and the E. M. F. produced by the motor 43 will exceed that produced bj.' the generator 40. Therefore, the motor will become a generator and the generator a motor thus braking the gyroscope about the preressional axis and assisting in driving the rotor.

`The preferred manner of carrying into effect the foregoing is illustrated in the wiring diagram of Fig. 3. In this diagram the control gyroscope 50 mounted for precession about vertical axis 50 governs the action of the main gyroscope. the precession motor being shown at 43 and the generator at 40. The control gyroscope actuates contacts 5l and 52 as it precesses one way or the other, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. A separate source of electrical supply, represented by lines 53 is provided for the auxiliary circuits and for the excitation of the separately excited fields 40 and 43 of the generator and motor respectively. The said contacts 5l and 52 are in circuit respectively with coils 54` controlling the double relay 56', a reversing switch lQO being shown between the same so that the apparatus may be used either for stabilizing or rolling the ship as is common in the art. A pair of contacts 57 on said relay` when closed serves to send current in one direction through field 40 of the generator while the other pair of contacts 52 sends current in the opposite direction through said field, thereby reversing the E. M. F. in the generator-motor armature circuit 80.

The control of the precession motor 43 is then effected entirely through the control of the field of the generator 40, thereby eliminating the necessity of breaking heavy currents at the switches. Said coils 54 and 55 are also in circuit respectively with throwout switches 58 and 59 on the main gyrolilla scope. Said switches are not shown in Fig. 1 but may be substantially similar to the switches shown in the patent to Sperry #1,342,397-controlling mechanism for ships gyroscopes, dated June 1, 1920, which break all circuits and ,apply the brakes when the limit of precession is reached in each direction. Also under the control of said relay and throwout switches are the three solenoids 56, 56', 56' for controlling the brakes.

It may be found in operation that the conversion of the precessionv motor into a generator and the generator into av motor to limit the precessional speed of the gyroscope is too sluggish to act effectively. In order to increase the Vsensitiveness of such action, applicant prefers to providek a very small auxiliary generator or magneto 60 actuated as the gyrosco'pe lprecesses by being on the shaft of the precession motor, for instance. Said magneto is shown as having a separately excited field 60" and as being in circuit with a relay 61. As soon as the E. M. F. of said generator exceeds a certain amount, the relay will be thrown against the action of spring 61', thereby bringing into action an auxiliary iield 143 on the motoiI to strengthen the field and increase the electro-motive force thereof, thereby increasing the braking action of the motor, which is acting at that time as a generator.

Heretofore, also it has been the practice to make stabilizing gyroscopes for ships decidedly pendulous chiefly to assist in centra-L izing the same, so that the gyroscope will have a natural tendency to normally maintain its vertical position. I have found, through lmany experiments, that such characteristic is undesirable for the reason that it makes the gyroscope more sluggish in action and requires more work on the part of the precession motor to accelerate the precession. The reason for this is that very oftenthe precessional motor `is called upon to accelerate the gyroscope when in an inclined position-in other words, against thc action of gravity on the pendulous factor of the gyroscope. In practice it has been found that very often the precession mot-or is unable to perform this extra workand, therefore, a pendulous stabilizer under such conditions fails to operate. I prefer, therefore. to substantially balance the gyroscope about its horizontal gudgeons 2 and 3. The mounting of the generator on top of the casing 1 assists to this end since it helps balance the heavy lower thrust bearing, oil pump etc. at the bottomof the casing.

I also prefer to employ about the precesfonal axis of the main gyroscope roller bearings, as shown at 70. As the gyroscope continually precesses back and forth coming to rest at each reversal of precession, it is found that the static friction of plain bearings is so large as to seriously interfere with the operation ofthe gyroscope and Vby the use of roller bearings, said static friction is eliminated and morev efficient operation secured.` y v `In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described-the principle of operation of my invention, to# gether with the apparatus, which Inow consider to represent the best embodiment 'l'.hereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. Also, white it is `designed to use the various features and clements in the combination and relations de` scribed, some of these may be altered and others omitted without interfering with the more general results outlined, and the invention extends to such use. s VHaving described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a ships gyro scopehaving a rotor and a precession controlling' motor, of a prime mover connected. to the rotor for driving the same, and a generator also connected to said rotor for 'supplying power to said precession motor.

2. The combination with a ships gyroscope having a rotor and a precession controlling motor` of a prime mover connected to the rotor for driving the same, and Va generator also connected to said rotor for supplying power to said precession motor,

said motor being so designed that when the speed of precession exceeds a predetermined amount, said motor and `generator will interchange their functions whereby the latter will assist in driving. the rotor.

23. The combination with a ships gyroscope having a rotor and a precession controlling inotor, of means directly connected to the rotor for ydriving the-same, and a generator for supplying power to said precession control motor, said generatorl being directly driven by said rotor driving means.

4. In a gyroscopic stabilizer employing a variable load .precession motor, means for supplying Vthe same `with power and absorbing power from the same ycomprising a turbine, a generator and a fly wheel, the latter being the rotor of the gyroscope to which the turbine and generator are coupled.

5. In vcombination with Ithe rotor of a gyroscope, a prime mover coupled to said rotor for spinning the same,`and means for utilizing part of the energy of said rotor in precessing said gyroscope and for utilizing part of the energy of precession in driving said rotor.

6. The combination with a' stabilizing or rolling gyroscope, of trunnions for mounting for oscillation about an axis, a rotor, a turbine for normally driving the rotor in soy one direction, and an oppositely acting turbine adapted to bring the rotor to rest.

7. The combination with a ships gyroscope, of trunnions for mounting for oscillation about an axis, a rotor, a turbine for normally driving the rotor in one direction, an oppositely acting turbine adapted to bring the rotor to rest, and means for directing the driving fluid through either turbine at will.

8. In a gyroscopic stabilizer tor ships, the combination with the flywheel and its housing, of trunnions tor mounting the housing for oscillation about a horizontal axis, a reaction steam turbine for normally driving the iiyvvheel, and means lor leading the live steam in and the exhaust steam out through a trunnion.

9. The combination with a ships gyroscope having a rotor and a precession controlling motor, ot a prime mover connected "to the rotor for driving the same, a generator also connected to said rotor for supplying power to said preaession motor, and means for altering the relative E. M. FFS of the motor and generator when the speed of procession exceeds a predetermined amount, ivhereby the motor becomes a regenerative brake.

l0. ln ship stabilizing apparatus, the combination with a main and a control gyroscope, ot a precession 'motor for the former, a generator for supplying current to said `motor, both said motor and generator having separately excited lields, an electro-magnetically controlled bralie for the main gyroscope, 4and means under the control of said control gyroscope and said main gyroscope for exciting, killing or reversing the ield of said generator and applying said brake.

11. In ship stabilizing apparatus, the combination with a main and a control gyroscope, o'l a precession motor for the tornier, means for driving the rotor of said main gyroscope, -a generator driven by said rotor driving means, both said motor and generator having separately excited fields, and means under the control of said control gyroscope for exciting, killing or reversing the iield of said generator.,

l2. In combination with the rotor of a gyroscope, a prime mover coupled thereto, for spinning the same, a precession motor, and means for utilizing part of the energy of said rotor in precessing said gyroscope and for utilizing part of the energy ot' precession in driving said rotor.

13. ln combination With a ships gyrotrolling motor, means tor driving said rotor and precession motor including a generator,

and means for strengthening the eld of the motor `when the speed of' precession exceeds a`-predetermined amount, including an auxiliary generator connected to said motel' and a relay operated thereby Which controls the motor iield.

lil. ln a gyroscopic stabilizer', the combination with the gyroscopic rotor or flywheel, oli tru unions tor mounting the gyroscope for oscillation about an. axis, a steam turbine having the revoluble blades iorined on said rotor, means for leading steam into said turbine througl'i a trunnio-n, and means tor leading the exhaust steam aivay from said turbine through the same trunnion.

l5. The combination with a gyrosropc, ot a pair of turbines tor driving the rotor in opposite directions, trunnions for mounting the same tor oscillation about an axis, one or said trnnnions being hollov.v with a plurality of passages therethrough, one oit said passages being connected to supply 4'steam to one ot' said turbines, another passage to supply steam to the other turbine, and the third passage being connected to exhaust steam trom either turbine.

16. rllhe combination with a ships gyroscope having a rotor and a precession controlling motor, ot means directly connected to the rotor for driving the same, a generator for supplying poiver to said precession control motor, said generator being directly driven by said rotor driving means, and means tor causing said motor and generator to interchange their functions when the speed of procession exceeds a predetermined amount.

1T. ln a ship stabilizing apparatus, the combination with a main and a control gyroseope, ot a precession motor for the tormer, a generator for supplying current to said motor, both said motor and generator' having separately excited fields, an electro-magnetically controlled brake Jror the main g. roscope, means under the control ot' said control gyroscope and said main gyroscope for exciting, killing or reversing the field ot said generator and applying said brake, and means controlled by the speed of precession 'for altering the motor iield.

ln testimony vfhereoll l have aliixed my signature.

ALEXANDER E. SCHEMI. 

